THUNDER BAY — The people responsible for promoting economic growth in Thunder Bay aim to tap into a trend that sees more Canadians considering moving to communities where housing is more affordable.
The Community Economic Development Commission is revitalizing a Work from Thunder Bay campaign by targeting people living in major urban areas such as Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.
Its announcement comes on the heels of a recent survey by Royal LePage Real Estate Services that found half of respondents in those cities would consider relocating if they were able to work remotely or find a new job.
Affordable housing was the number one reason for moving, followed by the appeal of lower living costs, proximity to nature and a more relaxed lifestyle.
Jamie Taylor, CEO of the CEDC, noted Tuesday that the same report put Thunder Bay at the top of a list of the 15 most affordable cities in Canada - "so we definitely wanted to respond to that. It's a great opportunity."
The Work from Thunder Bay Campaign was started during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We're pushing the campaign back out," Taylor said, "to try to attract people to come to Thunder Bay for our glorious affordability."
The people the CEDC is trying to reach are those already working remotely from their homes.
The campaign ads are designed to drive traffic to the commission's dedicated Work from Thunder Bay web page, where people can investigate opportunities and resources available in Thunder Bay.
Taylor said a larger population means a larger tax base, which she believes can lead to a more healthy and vibrant community.
"We want to showcase all of the great things that we have in our community . . . We want to grow our community. It's all about economic growth. So the more people that we can attract, the more businesses that will open. The more people will be spending in our local businesses," Taylor said.
An economic forecast issued Monday by the Conference Board of Canada also suggested that if working from home continues to be a big component of Canada's labour market, Thunder Bay could be attractive to some people in other cities because of its comparatively low housing costs.
With files from Leigh Nunan, TBT News